Best vacuum for hard floors and pet hair

[Eolian]

Bought a cheapo Zanussi vacuum cleaner last year which seemed good at first but actually isn't. I've always had upright ones but I've heard that cylinder ones are better for hard floors and we now have no carpets at all.
I'd rather not spend more than £250 max. Are the Henry ones really good? Also, I've read somewhere that bagless ones are actually worse at keeping the dust contained (my Zanussi is prone to sending out clouds of dust!).

Any recommendations very much appreciated!

Cylinders do a much better job on hard floors. The floorbrush has a pedal on it that releases a set of static brushes so it won't scratch the floor.

A Henry would be perfect if you have all hard floors. The bag capacity on a Henry is huge too so you don't need to worry about frequent emptying.

You're right about bagless, over time they start to block up and leak a lot of fine dust unless you constantly keep washing the filters. Bagged, especially HEPA bags, keep the dust in better

Thanks! I was looking at a Henry and a Miele online yesterday. Both have great reviews on Amazon but the Miele is £100 more expensive! Will have to look at the specs carefully and see if it looks worth it.

I love my Henry.
I have wooden floors downstairs and carpet upstairs,and a really big dog who malts a lot.
It is a great Hoover and really picks up all the dog hair,even from the carpets.

Miele's are great if you have lots of different floor types but the bags are smaller & more expensive than Henry's so that would be better for all hard floors, especially if you have pets

Ooh good - it's not often that people say you should go for the cheaper option! I have a big dog too, with short, fine hairs which float around the house and don't pick up easily. Gradually replacing all our carpets with hard flooring. Last one's about to go. Sounds like Henry is the one for me! I'm so pissed off with the Zanussi - I think it's just what you said, it gets clogged up and then shoots fine dust everywhere.

I sometimes think the more basic the better! Henrys are very bog standard with no fancy features, it just does the job it should do with nothing really to go wrong. That's why cleaners use them, they really take a hammering.

We've got a Henry in the garage for cleaning the cars and clearing up after DIY jobs. Never missed a beat!

Great - and they have smiley faces! I never realised there was Hetty and George and James and Harry etc as well as Henry though... Most seem to be just colour or size difference but Harry has a pet hair brush attachment and an additional charcoal filter to avoid nasty pet smells apparently! I think you're right though - basic Henry is the way forward. Thanks again for the advice! Zach the Zanussi will be banished to the garage.

Whatever you do don't buy a Dyson Animal. Just please don't.

I've got a Miele Cat and Dog and it's fantastic. Comes with 2 heads, one for hard floors and the rotating brush one for carpets. You can get a really long guarantee with them too. I've had mine for 6 years and when it breaks, I'll be getting another one.

Definitely not getting a Dyson! Had one before and it definitely wasn't worth the price. Tempted by the Miele but Henry is cheaper and everyone seems to love him!

You don't need the cat & dog models or the Harry if you've got no carpets. I think some of the Henry family do different things? Like George is a wet & dry vac like the old orange Vax's and shampoos carpets.

Right. No Harry, George or whatever. Just Henry. So glad I've got rid of my (manky) carpets. Thanks again.

OK. Speak as someone who has just spent many hours of research before buying.

Read Reddit - the sub-reddit r/vaccumcleaners (v good posts by two US based vac repairmen)

For hardfloors they suggest Miele cannister with the 'parquet' floor attachment.

You could go much cheaper. But you could drive a cheaper car.

Think of a Miele like buying a Lexus. Your investment will last 10-15 years. Buy a cheap used Ford and you be alright. But it's not even close.

I went with a Miele C3 and tbh I'm astonished at how good it is. I thought I knew what clean carpets were. Not so.